Posts made in February, 2015

Your spine is made up of vertebrae that stack on top of each other. In between these vertebrae are disks that serve as the buffer, keeping one bone from rubbing up against another. Sometimes, these disks can “slip” and stick out through the vertebrae, irritating surrounding nerves. Age, obesity, low levels of physical activity, and continuous strain such as at a job often cause this. Recognizing the Symptoms A herniated disk most often leads to pain and sometimes, even numbness in the leg. A herniated disk may sound like a very serious problem, but for most people surgery is unnecessary and physical therapy proves the best solution. If you have experienced this pain or numbness in the leg, a physical therapist can evaluate you to determine if you have a herniated disk. Special tests along with measurements of your posture and range of motion will usually show that a herniated disk is at fault. But, if you are experiencing extreme pain, muscle weakness, or loss of sensation, something more serious could be at fault and an MRI may be necessary. How Physical Therapy Can Help Licensed physical therapists will guide you through a specific exercise regimen that will relieve the pressure placed on the nerves surrounding the disk, give as long-lasting good habits such as posture improvement, and specialized pain relief treatments to help you through the current pain. Targeted strength and aerobic exercises will build muscle in specific areas, such as the arms and legs, to take pressure off the spine when working. In combination with stretches that will also aide to improve flexibility and motion throughout the...

Orthopedic surgeons will sometimes choose to replace part, or all of a joint that has been damaged. Hips, shoulders, and knees are the most common sources of pain and loss of mobility that doctors will attempt to fix. But, having this surgery is not enough. Joint replacement procedures become more and more common every year, but the difficulty of adjusting to a new joint remains a long, involved process. Working with a dedicated physical therapist is the best way to learn how to successfully get the most mobility out of your new joint. What Physical Therapy Offers Physical therapy programs include resistance exercises and stretching to help your adjustment after a difficult procedure. In addition, weight training and treadmill exercises will help get your strength back allowing you to get the most out of your replacement. A Specific Program for You The pain after a joint replacement can keep you from doing the things you love or keep you awake at night. A physical therapy program tailored to you and your specific circumstances, whether it was a knee, hip, or shoulder replacement, will help get you back on track and ease the pain. Licensed physical therapists are ready to develop the right program for you, helping you to get back to living your life and stop worrying about the difficulties of joint pain. ...

Vertigo is a medical condition that can start out as annoying, and evolve into something with dramatic consequences for your daily life. Many people wrongly believe that vertigo is simply a more advanced term for the fear of heights, but the medical definition of vertigo is the sensation that you or your environment is spinning even when you are stationary. What Causes Vertigo? The causes of vertigo vary, and it can affect anyone at any time. The primary source of vertigo is anything that effects the inner ear, a huge source of balance and equilibrium for your entire body. This means that serious conditions like Meniere’s disease or a forceful trauma to the head can just as easily result in damage to the inner ear as a simple cold virus or congestion. But no matter what the cause is, Vertigo should not be taken lightly or ignored. How to Treat Vertigo? Because the causes of vertigo can be so varied, any experience with the symptoms should lead you to consult with your doctor or a neurologist to make sure that there isn’t a more serious condition at fault. However, the process of getting through vertigo and regaining your sense of balance and equilibrium can be achieved through physical therapy. Balance Therapy Balance therapy and vestibular rehabilitation can involve advanced technology, simple exercises, and basic maneuvers to help restore the inner ear help you compensate for changes to your normal state of equilibrium. Physical therapists will design a specialized exercise program to help your other senses compensate for what’s affected by vertigo while also minimizing the amount of dizziness that you feel. Many of these exercises can be done at home and a physical therapist will also work with you to develop long-term strategies for improvement and reconditioning. Vertigo can be scary, frustrating, and difficult to overcome, but with the help of physical therapy it is possible to bring balance back into your...

Car wrecks, sports, and general falls all pose significant risks to your general health, but nothing is more immediately painful, or more taxing to recover from, than a broken bone. Fractures are often categorized in three varieties: a simple fracture, displacement of the bone, and multiple breaks that require immediate surgery. Any time that you suspect you have a broken bone, you should seek medical attention immediately. After getting the proper treatment, you might find yourself at a loss for how to go about your regular activities, and that is where physical therapy will come in. Most Common Fractures Ankle fractures are some of the most common, and most cumbersome to deal with. A fractured ankle can take months to heal and normally require the use of crutches. Physical therapists can target the muscle groups that you will need the most to successfully stay mobile with crutches as well as strengthening of knees and core so that the rest of your body can take over while your foot is out of commission. Another common fracture is the wrist or elbow. Often people who fall try to catch themselves with their hands, resulting in a painful and annoying fracture that makes many daily activities seem impossible. Physical therapists can work with you to develop smart strategies for accomplishing your tasks while your wrist or elbow heals, and also starting the process of returning to normal. Hip Fractures Hip fractures are some of the most intensive and difficult to recover from. Requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation, a hip fracture can feel completely incapacitating. That’s why physical therapy is so important. A therapist will work with you to help your body heal and get it ready for when you are finally able to be mobile again. Physical therapists also commonly work to keep your cardiovascular system in shape during long periods of potential bed rest and...